Latest news with #knowledgeexchange


Mail & Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Tunisia and South Africa hold seminar on water management
Flow: Water experts in South Africa and Tunisia, diplomats, ambassadors, academics and civil society representatives attended the seminar on science diplomacy and knowledge sharing for water management. A seminar on water management in Tunisia and South Africa, titled The Role of Science Diplomacy on Knowledge and Expertise Sharing, Tunisia-South Africa Experience on Water Management as a Model , was held on 19 June at the Pretoria International Convention Centre. The event was a collaboration between the department of science, technology and innovation; the South African Academy of Sciences; the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa and the Embassy of Tunisia in Pretoria. It was attended by more than 140 people, including representatives from the South African departments of international cooperation, agriculture and health, as well as the African Development Bank for Southern Africa. Professor Mohamed Fethi Ben Hamouda of the Tunisian National Institute of Agronomy and coordinator of the Tunisian-South African cooperation project; Professor Essam Nouiri, of the same institute, as well as heads of diplomatic missions, diplomats, delegates from South African research centres, the private sector and members of the Tunisian community. Opening the seminar, Tunisian ambassador in South Africa Karima Bardaoui emphasised the importance of enhancing the cooperation between the two countries in the field of water management. She underlined that the event presented an opportunity to draw attention to the dire water crisis in Gaza, where millions of Palestinians have been denied access to clean water for more than two years, and reiterated the Palestinian people's right to peace and self-determination. The programme included speeches by Gugelethu Zwane, deputy director-general for institutional planning and support of the department of science, technology and innovation, as well as by Moses Tembo, of the African Development Bank in Southern Africa. They both spoke about the efforts made in water management and reiterated the importance of enhancing African cooperation in this field. A panel discussion was dedicated to the scientific research and cooperation between Tunisia and South Africa on water management. The panel was enriched by the interventions of Jennifer Molwantwa, the chief executive of the Water Research Commission of South Africa, and professors Hamouda and Nouiri. It included presentations by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the universities of Western Cape, Fort Hare and Stellenbosch. The session also featured the participation of Professor Abdon Atangana, of the University of Free State, who is the head of the African Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and who has been recognised as the second ranked mathematician in the world. The seminar included presentations by civil society activists Ferrial Adam, the executive director of the Water Community Action Network, and Nathan Mariemuthu, the director of the Empire Partner Foundation. The event was an occasion to introduce Riadh Fatnasi, a Tunisian hydraulic engineer who is working on a water distribution project in Lesotho. Overall, the talks highlighted the significant level of cooperation between Tunisia and South Africa in the field of water management, as well as the promising opportunities to boost this economically and scientifically.


Arab News
17-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan, UAE ink agreement to share knowledge and expertise in various sectors
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday signed an agreement to share knowledge and expertise in diverse fields such as public sector reforms, science and technology, urban planning and human resource development, state-run media said. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries as a high-level UAE delegation, led by Deputy Minister For Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, arrived in Pakistan to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation. The UAE is one of Pakistan's most important regional partners, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, defense, energy, and diaspora affairs. Roughly 1.5 million Pakistanis live in the UAE, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani population after Saudi Arabia. 'Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchanging knowledge and expertise in diverse spheres of development,' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. The MoU was signed by Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Lootah. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. 'The fields identified for sharing knowledge and guidance include good governance, development planning, public sector reforms, human resource development, urban planning and science and technology,' the state broadcaster said. Earlier, the UAE delegation met Sharif during which the Pakistani prime minister spoke about steps taken by his government to promote digitization, a paperless economy, a faceless customs system and data-based decision-making in the country. Sharif said Pakistan wanted to benefit from the UAE's experiences to make its initiatives more effective, the state-run media reported. Lootah appreciated the Pakistani community's role in the UAE's development, the state broadcaster said. 'He said the UAE is happy to share knowledge and experiences with Pakistan,' Radio Pakistan said. Bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE have deepened in recent years, especially in areas like infrastructure, renewable energy and logistics. In May 2024, the UAE pledged to invest $10 billion in Pakistan's key economic sectors as part of its long-term regional economic strategy. Pakistan needs foreign investment to boost its economy and shore up its currency reserves to meet rising external repayment obligations as it treads a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF bailout deal.


Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Canada-Qatar forum unveils initiatives for deeper ties; focus on youth, SMEs
Qatar - The Canadian-Qatari Business Forum (CQBF) is set to launch a series of initiatives focused on fostering knowledge exchange, engaging small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and deepening provincial-level ties to strengthen bilateral relations. Beyond solidifying Qatar as a key investment gateway, CQBF executive director Yasser Dhouib told Gulf Times that plans are on the anvil for an event slated in September in Canada, specifically targeting the healthcare industry and healthcare technology, among others, and to promote Qatar and its various investment offerings to Canadian companies. 'CQBF also expressed a strong desire for reciprocal visits between Canadian and Qatari delegations, exploring the opportunities either in Quebec, Ontario, or on the west coast of Canada,' Dhouib explained. According to Dhouib, a cornerstone of CQBF's strategy is 'a pioneering knowledge exchange initiative for the establishment of a Qatari-Canadian internship programme. This programme envisions Canadian students staying in Qatar for six months, allowing them to explore the country and learn about Qatar's culture and heritage, as well as its business philosophy. 'Once they are back in Canada, the objective is to promote further awareness about Qatar and to create a positive long-term impact on the internship participants. We are talking about a new generation and prospective leaders. We want to create leaders by giving them the opportunities to know in more tangible ways the culture, the business community, the business atmosphere of Qatar,' Dhouib pointed out. He confirmed the programme would be reciprocal, with young Qatari leaders heading to Canada for similar internships, emphasising: 'If you want really to create strong bonds, it starts with education.' Dhouib noted that CQBF's approach is 'multifaceted', extending beyond large corporations to embrace SMEs. He clarified that CQBF aims to be an inclusive 'forum... bringing on people with different horizons, experiences', rather than 'a select club'. Recognising Canada's federal structure, Dhouib highlighted the importance of engaging provincial governments, which he described as 'very effective, very powerful' in economic and educational matters. © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Zawya
11-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
HBMSU explores academic and research cooperation with Port Said University and the British University in Egypt
As part of its ongoing efforts to expand its network of academic partnerships and foster knowledge exchange across the Arab world, His Excellency Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), met with the President of Port Said University and paid an official visit to the British University in Egypt (BUE) to explore avenues for academic and research collaboration, as well as the development of joint educational programs that promote innovation and align with development and labour market needs. During his meeting with Prof. Dr. Sherif Saleh, President of Port Said University, both parties reviewed potential areas of academic collaboration and the development of joint programs that respond to national development priorities. The meeting featured a rich exchange of perspectives on aligning academic outcomes with market demands. H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Awar praised Port Said University's advanced model, especially its effective partnership with the private sector in managing its university hospital, describing it as an 'inspiring experience.' For his part, Prof. Dr. Sherif Saleh expressed his appreciation for the upcoming collaboration with HBMSU, commending its pioneering role in smart education and academic innovation. During his visit to the British University in Egypt, H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Awar met with Prof. Dr. Mohamed Lotfy, President of BUE, where they discussed prospects for academic cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two institutions. The HBMSU delegation was introduced to BUE's academic framework and institutional values, which are rooted in excellence and innovation. The visit also included an overview of the university's sustainability initiatives, the Student Union experience, Digital Curriculum development, the Financial Lab, and internship and student exchange programs — all of which reflect the university's commitment to providing its students with a world-class educational experience. The delegation also toured the university's advanced facilities, gaining insight into the modern infrastructure supporting its academic mission. These efforts reflect HBMSU's strong commitment to advancing smart learning across the Arab region and strengthening partnerships with distinguished universities to develop flexible and innovative educational models that meet the needs of development and the labour market, while empowering a new generation capable of leading positive change in their communities. For further information, please contact: Orient Planet Group (OPG) Email: media@ Website: